Hurricane relief assistance benefitted more than 900 families

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts –- More than 900 families received hurricane relief assistance from the Team Unity Government’s Hurricane Relief Fund (HRF) for damage to their homes done by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

An update on the success of the programme was given by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris at his press conference on Thursday, Aug. 30.

The prime minister indicated that so far $11.5 million was spent on house rehabilitation and according to Dr. Harris, citizens and residents were appreciative of the support provided by the government.

Dr. Harris further lamented the disloyalty of the Opposition Leader who sought to undermine the Hurricane Relief Fund, which has been doing so much good for the people.

“The irony of the criticism from the Leader of the Opposition is that had it not been for the Hurricane Relief Fund many in his constituency and the country at-large would still have tarpaulins on their roofs going into yet another hurricane season,” Prime Minister Harris said.

Furthermore, the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister noted that more than 2,000 families have benefitted under the Unity Housing Solutions Programme. These include:
• 900 families assisted through the Hurricane Relief Fund;
• 219 houses allocated under the Unity Housing Solutions Scheme;
• 450 people assisted by the National Housing Corporation’s (NHC) HELP initiative;
• 87 persons benefitting from the government’s first time homeowners programme, and
• 93 individuals who benefitted through mortgage loans from 2015 to 2018 from the FREESH and GRASP programmes at National Bank.

Prime Minister Harris continued, “The joy on the faces of the recipients of homes over the last two weeks has inspired us to move faster and to build more homes. Next week, even more homes will be distributed, this time in East Basseterre, bringing to 219 the number of homes distributed by my administration. Another 100 units are at various stages of completion.”

“This has been the most comprehensive housing response by any government in any time in our history,” the prime minister added. “No other administration in living memory has been able to do what we have done as quickly as we have. Imagine this historic record of accomplishments in just over three years.”